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Paddick's fears over armed police Paddick's fears over armed police
(20 minutes later)
Routine armed patrols in London pose "obvious dangers", ex-deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Brian Paddick has warned.Routine armed patrols in London pose "obvious dangers", ex-deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Brian Paddick has warned.
A trial is taking place in three areas, which senior officers say is to tackle a 17% rise in gun crime since April.A trial is taking place in three areas, which senior officers say is to tackle a 17% rise in gun crime since April.
Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Paddick said: "How do they (criminals) know which police officer has a gun and which doesn't have a gun?"Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Paddick said: "How do they (criminals) know which police officer has a gun and which doesn't have a gun?"
He also warned that the measure could "distance" the public from the police.He also warned that the measure could "distance" the public from the police.
"There is a tradition of policing in the UK, policing by consent, not by force, policing with the support and the co-operation of the public," said Mr Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2008 London mayoral elections."There is a tradition of policing in the UK, policing by consent, not by force, policing with the support and the co-operation of the public," said Mr Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2008 London mayoral elections.
"And there is a danger of further distancing the police from the public."And there is a danger of further distancing the police from the public.
"Particularly in relation to gun crime, the police rely on information from the public to be able to deal with this particular offence," he told the BBC Radio 4 programme. "Particularly in relation to gun crime, the police rely on information from the public to be able to deal with this particular offence.
"The other danger with this, of course, is that these armed officers are working alongside unarmed community officers."The other danger with this, of course, is that these armed officers are working alongside unarmed community officers.
"And if there is an escalation, if criminals start to carry guns because the police are carrying guns, how do they know which police officer has a gun and which doesn't have a gun?""And if there is an escalation, if criminals start to carry guns because the police are carrying guns, how do they know which police officer has a gun and which doesn't have a gun?"
'Temporary response''Temporary response'
Officers from the CO19 unit have begun pilot patrols in Tottenham, Brixton and Haringey.Officers from the CO19 unit have begun pilot patrols in Tottenham, Brixton and Haringey.
The Met said the measure was a temporary response to rising gun crime.The Met said the measure was a temporary response to rising gun crime.
On Thursday Ch Insp Neil Sharman, of CO19, said the move was a "more proactive approach to deal with weapons on our streets".On Thursday Ch Insp Neil Sharman, of CO19, said the move was a "more proactive approach to deal with weapons on our streets".
A spokeswoman for London mayor Boris Johnson said the use of armed police "should be the exception not the norm".A spokeswoman for London mayor Boris Johnson said the use of armed police "should be the exception not the norm".